Thomas Jefferson: Keep government small.The Hunger Games: A thrilling post-apocalyptic distopian quest told as an epic story that in part clearly warns of the dangers of totalitarian government. My family all read the trilogy a year ago and had multiple discussions around the dinner table of its merits. Although shocking, its message should not be lost.The warning from author Suzanne Collins may be artfully conveyed, but it is nothing new. The founders of our country also new of the dangers of governmental power, and so created powerful checks and balances so that those who governed did so at the consent of the people. Rather than take from the people at will the cry from the Revolution was "No taxation without representation."
The warning from the founders of our country was dutifully recorded, but it was nothing new. The people of Israel heard the same warning. It was from God when they wanted a king of their own. "He will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen... He will take your daughters for perfumers and his cooks and bakers... He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants... Then you will cry out... but the Lord will not answer you in that day." 1 Samuel 8:11-19
Right out of the Hunger Games, or the pen of Thomas Jefferson the people were warned.
Don't waste the opportunity to teach your children the grave dangers of totalitarian government. Our nation's republic is a precious thing. The best government is one that governs small.
